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When Pokémon Stadium released in 2000, the title had a special option for newer trainers: rental Pokémon. These Pokémon allowed trainers that hadn’t played through the Game Boy games a chance to battle. With Pokémon Sword and Shield bringing a focus back to gigantic stadiums, it seems only natural that the titles would follow a few cues from the N64 classic.
In Sword and Shield, Rental Pokémon return, but with a new twist: players can actually make their teams available for rental to other players online. By sharing their specific team code, players across the world can battle with one another’s Pokémon! It’s just one of the ways the new games are making things easier for casual fans to get in on the action. There are also Casual Battles, which are more relaxed affairs, and even allow trainers to bring in some legendary Pokémon.
Hardcore fans haven’t been forgotten, however. Ranked Battles are far more serious, with different ranks belonging to different tiers. Each tier is based on a different Poké Ball. Ranked Battles take place in different seasons; when one season ends, ranks are adjusted and a new one begins. It sounds a bit similar to seasons in professional sports!
The game will offer two types of online competitions: Friendly Competitions and Official Competitions. Friendly competitions allow for custom rules, while Official Competitions have special rules for battles.
Last but not least, the new titles will also feature new items and new abilities for Pokémon to use in battle. For example, Galarian Weezing’s Neutralizing Gas neutralizes all other abilities on the field, regardless of trainer. You can see more of the new abilities in the game in the trailer above!
Are you getting excited for Pokémon Sword and Shield? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: The Pokémon Company
